"The bad odor in the area, referred to by the Municipal Council in its recent meeting, does not come from the factory but from some other source," said a statement from the Saudi Gulf Environment Protection Company, which operates the plant.

Chairman of the Jeddah Municipal Council Hussein Baaqeel recently said a recycling facility located close to residential districts was causing environmental and health problems.

Baaqeel said a committee set up specifically to relocate the factory should work to move it. "We have already discussed alternative plans for recycling medical waste once the present factory is closed," he said.

In its statement, the company said it is not to blame for bad odors. It added that the company temporarily shut down its nighttime operations to ascertain the source of the smell and found it was not to blame.

The company added that the factory operates with a government license in line with internationally approved and environmentally friendly methods of waste treatment.

It said its program for medical waste treatment had been developed in line with the Kingdom's environment standards for protecting the public health and that it has won ISO 14001 for environment and ISO 9001 for administration.

It added that it has also won awards for best environment standards.

"The company is determined to implement a strict monitoring system at all of its sites and the highest standards in its operations to protect public health and not to endanger it and nor to pollute the environment. The company is also offering the municipal council an opportunity to conduct a workshop for non-partisan specialists in order to enlighten the public about its services to the environment and society," said the statement.

The company also invited journalists to view its activities in Briman.